Workplace health and safety often focuses on what goes on inside a building, but it’s also important to consider the safety of the building itself.
As an employer, you have a duty to make sure that walls, ceilings and other structural components are maintained in a safe condition. Failure to do so can have catastrophic consequences, as a recent HSE prosecution showed.
In July 2016, five agency workers of a metal recycling company in Birmingham were tragically killed when a 45 tonne wall collapsed on them. A sixth man was seriously hurt, while two other workers narrowly avoided injury.
This was one of the worst workplace accidents in recent years, prompting a comprehensive HSE investigation. The 12ft wall was comprised of 30 concrete blocks which were designed to slot together. Investigators found that the wall had been taken down and reassembled prior to the accident, possibly compromising its integrity.
Two firms were occupying the site at the time, and both were found guilty of failing to fulfil their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Hawkeswood Metal Recycling was fined £1 million, while Ensco 10101 Limited was ordered to pay £600,000. Both company directors were also prosecuted and, in May 2023, each received a nine month prison sentence.
What are my obligations around building safety?
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations make it your duty to provide a safe working environment for your employees. This is a far reaching law, covering everything from lighting to hygiene. It also includes a number of requirements that relate to the structural integrity of buildings.
Under the law, employers must do the following:
- Make sure that all buildings are in good repair
- Take precautions to stop debris falling from open edges
- Cover up or fence off openings in the floor
- Provide good drainage for wet processes to prevent the erosion or damage of walls and floors
- Ensure that all windows can be opened and closed safely
How can I meet these obligations?
Perhaps the biggest danger in this area is complacency. In order to stay safe, you need to be vigilant about spotting new hazards:
- Carry out regular inspections of your premises. Once or twice a year is probably enough for offices, but workplaces that are home to heavy machinery or industrial processes should be inspected more often.
- Record the date and findings of every inspection, and set a date for the next inspection as soon as you’ve finished.
- Consider hiring a professional surveyor to check the structural integrity of buildings.
- Encourage employees to speak up if anything seems unsafe.
- Investigate all accidents thoroughly to determine whether an environmental hazard played a part.
- Shut down unsafe areas immediately and don’t reopen them until the problem is fixed.
What else can I do to keep employees safe?
Creating a safe working environment isn’t just about making sure that your premises are structurally sound. From providing adequate lighting to ensuring that walkways are kept free of obstacles, maintaining a hazard-free workplace requires constant attention.
The best place to start is with a full risk assessment. This should consider all potential workplace hazards and suggest actions to mitigate them. Update your risk assessment for every new task, or whenever there are major changes to the working environment.
For help with risk assessments, or to book a training session on a particular area of workplace H&S, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
